You are here: Home/Shows and Events/ Channel 4’s For The Love Of Cars Restored Lotus Elite Up For Auction

Channel 4’s For The Love Of Cars Restored Lotus Elite Up For Auction

October 27, 2016 By Mike LeeLast updated on October 27, 2016

The 1958 Lotus Elite Series I, one of the most famous Elite’s in the world, will be auctioned by Silverstone Auctions at the Classic Motor Show Sale on 12th November.

Bought new by close friend of Colin Chapman, the Jazz Legend Chris Barber.

Extensively raced in top level, International Sports Car racing from 1958-1963.

Having been off road for decades, the car has undergone a top quality, exacting restoration by Ant Anstead and his team for Channel 4’s ‘For the Love of Cars’ and the sale of the car will be broadcast on a forthcoming one off Lotus Special.

The very first production Lotus Elite, bought new by jazz legend Chris Barber, and recently restored for Channel 4’s ‘For the Love of Cars’, will be auctioned by Silverstone Auctions at the Classic Motor Show Sale on 12th November at the NEC, Birmingham.

The ‘For the Love of Cars’ production team will be attending the auction to film the sale as it unfolds, with the episode due to be broadcast shortly after on Channel 4.

The 1958 Lotus Elite Series I, chassis 1009, is the very first Elite produced as a proper production vehicle, unlike the previous eight examples produced as pre-production prototypes, and was used by Lotus as a display vehicle at the 1958 Earls Court Motor Show.

It was then purchased by one of Colin Chapman’s most favoured customers and personal friend, jazz musician Chris Barber, on New Year’s Eve of the same year, making it the first ever customer car, before embarking on an incredible race history.

Barber raced the Elite extensively for five seasons in top level international sportscar racing, in both the UK and Europe. As well as competing in three consecutive Tourist Trophy races at Goodwood in 1961, 1962 and winning its class in 1963 with Mike Beckwith, the Elite raced at the Nurburgring and in the British Empire Trophy. During this period it was also driven regularly by Sir John Whitmore, the ‘Racing Baronet’, who famously broke the class lap record at Spa with ‘CB 23’ while on his way to class victory in the Grand Prix GT Support Race of 1962. Other notable drivers who drove the car include Bob Olthoff.

Today, at the age of 58 and after several years in storage, the Elite has just emerged from a top quality, exacting nut and bolt restoration by Ant Anstead’s team with assistance from top Lotus marque experts, all filmed as part of a one off Lotus special ‘For the Love of Cars’.

Ant Anstead explains, “Every detail of this car has been restored as new using only top quality components, and with race scrutineering in mind. The result is car that is a joy to behold and a thrill to drive. I raced the car in the Tourist Trophy at this year’s Silverstone Classic and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Ant Anstead’s restoration involved stripping the car to a bare monocoque, fitting a full, FIA approved roll cage accompanied by an FIA homologated Tillett B6F Carbon-GRP racing seat, TRS belts, bespoke fuel system avoiding the notorious “wing tank” that remains fitted. The engine was rebuilt by Coventry Climax specialist, Glyn Peacock, to his full race ‘all steel’ specification and a pair of weber 40 carbs, the original MGA sourced gearbox was rebuilt by well-known specialist Mike Jennings, and new wheels, from specialist MWS, were fitted with the correct Dunlop racing tyres. Every inch of this car has been accounted for.

Presented now in stunning period UDT Green, the time has come for the car to find a new home and it will go under the hammer at the NEC estimated at between £75,000 and £100,000.

Speaking ahead of the sale of the car, Silverstone Auctions managing director, Nick Whale, said, “This car represents a unique proposition for buyers either wanting to race in top level historic motor sport or add to a stable of historically interesting cars. Its history and provenance make this Elite one of the most famous in the world and it would be welcome at any prestigious historic race meeting or show worldwide.”

Archives

Follow and connect with us

We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we use by visiting the settings page and opt in to the different options or you can allow their use by pressing the accept button to the right.

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

disable

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

This site also serves Google personalised ads, which will help serve ads relevant to your interests.

Keeping these cookies enabled helps us to improve our website.

disable

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!